Mass, Wendy. Every Soul A Star. 336 p. Little, Brown and Company. 2008. ISBN 978-0-316-00256-1.After seeing many students check this book out at the school library where I work, and then also seeing it as one of three nominees on theCalifornia Young Readers Medal middle/junior high school category for next year, I decided it was time to read this book.

And I’m so glad I did. I now understand what all the buzz is about.

Three very different young teens become unlikely friends during summer at the Moon Shadow campground. Moon Shadow is getting lots of visitors because it is the best place in the entire country to visit the solar eclipse that is going to happen.

Ally, simple and outdoorsy, lives at the campground with her family. Ally absolutely loves it there. She is devastated and angry that her Dad has gotten a new job, which means they have to move.

Bree, popular and gorgeous, and her family are moving to the campground from their suburban home because her scientist parents are taking over as campground managers from Ally’s parents. Bree is not at all impressed with the move, and doesn’t want to be there at all.

Jack, overweight and socially awkward, has been invited to help his science teacher as a way to improve his science grade and not have to attend summer school. He’s excited to go, mainly because it gets him out of summer school.

Will Ally have to leave the campground? Will Bree be able to move back to her home with all of her glamorous friends? Will Jack finally get a chance to fit in and make friends?

This story is a page-turner, and readers may even find themselves wanting to learn more about stars and astronomy after they finish the book. I know I did!